Research funding from the National Institutes of Health has advanced our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of life—and has led to cures and therapies for some of the world’s most devastating diseases.

Those advances, however, may be in jeopardy if proposed cuts to NIH funding take effect. These cuts—$5.8 billion, or 18 percent of its budget—would be devastating to biomedical research and would threaten the future health not only of people in the United States, but across the world.

Without funding from the NIH, research in many of our laboratories would grind to a halt. A 20 percent cut could mean years before new grants are awarded.

OHSU is taking the proposed cuts to science very seriously. The entire OHSU community—from faculty and staff to students and senior administration—are taking action to prevent them. Employees are organizing letter-writing campaigns to Oregon’s congressional delegation, members of the OHSU community are joining the non-partisan March for Science, and OHSU Senior Vice President of Research Dan Dorsa has been getting the word out to the public in multiple media appearances, including with KPTV and KGW.

Advocating for science is critical at this moment. The health and welfare of future generations depends on the life-saving and life-transforming research conducted at OHSU and other institutions across the country.